Pakistan's recent victory over England in the second Test came as a huge relief for them, especially after their back-to-back defeats in recent times. Despite a string of disappointing performances, including early exits in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup which was coupled with a Test series sweep against Bangladesh, Pakistan managed to secure a crucial win against England on home soil to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Former Pakistan pacer and current selector, Aaqib Javed, revealed an interesting insight into the perception of Pakistan cricket from the outside. He shared a conversation with India's head coach Gautam Gambhir where the latter expressed concerns about the state of Pakistan cricket.
When Gautam Gambhir expressed concerns about current state of Pakistan Cricket
Aaqib Javed shared an intriguing story about his conversation with Gautam Gambhir during a series against Sri Lanka. During their conversation, Gambhir posed a thought-provoking question to Javed where he wanted to know why Pakistan cricket seemed to be struggling despite the wealth of talent available in the country. Javed reflected on this moment, emphasizing the concern that Gambhir expressed about the state of Pakistani cricket.
"Pakistan Cricket Ko Ho Kya Gaya?" "We met the Indian players during our series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir ne mujhe kaha ke 'Aaqib bhai, yeh Pakistan cricket ko kya ho gaya hai? Itna talent hai, hum bhi dekhte hain, sab kuch hai, inhone kiya kya hai?' (Gambhir asked me what has happened to Pakistan cricket despite so much talent and everything, what have they done?)" Aaqib Javed said in a podcast.
Aaqib Javed has shared an insightful observation about the decline of Pakistan cricket and its impact on the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clashes. According to Javed, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed his disappointment over Pakistan's weakened cricket team. Gambhir believes that the rivalry between India and Pakistan is at its best when both teams are at their peak, offering a thrilling contest. However, with Pakistan's recent struggles, the excitement and intensity of these matches have diminished, as the imbalance between the two teams lessens the appeal of the contest.
"He (Gambhir) also feels sorry about it, because there are a few (top-level) teams, and the Pakistan- India matches provide the biggest thrill. So if your team (Pakistan) falls like that then one of the game's biggest matches loses its charm," Javed said.
"ICC mei log haste hain [people in the ICC laugh about it]," he further stated.
However, Pakistan would look to munch on the confidence they have gained from their victory against England in the second Test. Shan Masood's men will now have their sights set on the third Test in Rawalpindi, where they will want to sign off the series with a victory on their side.
